Seeing the thing strike at and physical connect with Kalista, Ethan takes the shot he had been waiting for. He squeezes the trigger and a thin red beam stabs out at the wraith.

19:19, Today: Ethan rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Aimed Shot on Wraith attacking Kalista.
19:21, Today: Ethan rolled 19 using 4d6.  Damage for laser rifle, assuming it hits.

Concluding 1st Round of Combat

Arulas and Ethan both spring into action at the same time. Ethan's strikes the wraith near Kalista with a carefully-placed laser beam. Sir Arulas scores an solid and stylish hit using his psi-sword against the wraith in his face.

The final wraith charged Polkatain, seeking out the largest target available. It grabbed for the dragon's neck, but its claws were knocked away by Polkatain's own talons.

Just as it looks as if the group might be gaining an upper hand over the tree's guardians, the soul tree itself intervened. A whispered incantation is heard like wind rustling in branches. Doc, Nyx, Ethan, and Samuel (those without a wraith in their faces) all feel their feet suddenly stuck to the earth. They have been targeted by a Carpet of Adhesion Spell. A Save vs Magic standard saving throw will allow that specific character to pull free within 2D6 melee rounds. A failed saving throw means remaining stuck and immobile for 70 melee rounds.

Round 2
Everyone who was recently suffering from a case of failed Horror Factor saves is free to take actions now. This is what my initiative chart looks like now...
28 Kalista
16 wraith A
13 wraith B
12 Nyx
11  wraith C
? Doc
? Arulas
? Ethan
6 soul tree
5 Polkatain

Kalista strikes back at her attacker with psi-sword that appears out of literally nowhere. There was no attempt made to parry nor dodge. The damage shreds what remains of the wraith's corporeal body and carries over, mortally wounding its ethereal form as well. It vanishes from visible view, assuming the form (to those who can see the invisible) of a hazy energy cloud. All that remains of this creature are its 16 hit points. The wraith takes a step back away from the cyber-knight and releases a shock of electrokenetic energy at her. Dodging may be attempted but it extremely difficult. It inflicts another 10 points of mega-damage to her armor.

The second wraith is also taking a beating but holding up better than its companions. It presses the attack against Arulas with another claw strike. If you want to roll a parry or dodge, you only need to tie an 8.

Nyx adds his own gunfire to the noise next. Targeting the third wraith, the one near Polkatain, his bullets tear through ectoplasmic faux-flesh. 24 points of damage inflicted which is almost all it has left in its corporeal body

That third wraith disappears from sight. The spook has gone intangible now. Characters who can see the invisible will still see it, but it's now immune to most physical attacks. Ironically, I don't think it looks any different to Polkatain.

Next, Doc opens up on the only remaining visible Wraith with more silver bullets. Both shots hit the dancing partner of Sir Arulas and bite deeply.

Arulas thrusts his own psi-sword at this same monster. The spirit dodges the blow but just barely.

This leaves Ethan, Polkatain, and Samuel to take their actions now.

Ethan released the pressure on the trigger but only enough to reset it, keeping his finger on it. He is pleased that he hit the thing but his moment of satisfaction turns to one of dismayed surprise when he tries to shift position. His feet stick to the soft earth, lifting only a few inches before being inexorably pulled back down to the same spot. "Ugh," he thought, "This is like going to a cheap theater, only worse."

Shifting his position before taking his next shot now being out of the question, Ethan decides to focus on what he can do, namely taking that next shot. Since his previous target had vanished, he lines up on the only remaining visible wraith. Capturing it in his combat optic, he exhales and squeezes the trigger.

.

Polkitain leaped into the air and flew behind the tree so it was between him and his companions. He kept to the air and since his companions might not able to see the tree he shouts out, "Aim at me and fire !" Knowing they would hit the tree or at least hoping it.

In a flash of laser fire, Ethan's weapon burns and his careful aim burn away most of the wraith's remaining body. Most of the wraith vanishes in spectral flames. Only a floating head and a floating clawed hand remain.

Polkatain moves in a flash and races towards the tree. He comes to sudden stop on its far side, about a forty yards from his original position. Polk is actually fast enough to do this. At the same time, he shouts, "Aim at me and fire !" (in American, I am pretty sure)

While the forest runner dragon is moving, the tree casts another quick spell. A large net appears out of thin air. The web-like structure is bone white and perhaps ever so slightly glowing. It targets Samuel, Ethan, Doc, and Nyx. Unable to dodge, the four watch as the net sails through the air at them...

Reacting instinctively, Nyx flexed his mind and stared hard and the incoming net

OOC: Using his Telekinesis to try and deflect the net. Do you need a roll, perhaps Parry?

Kalista flicked her wrist and slashed at the remnants of the monster in front of her. If she destroyed it she would turn her attention to the tree creature.

07:10, Yesterday: Kalista rolled 18 using 6d6.  MD sword strike.
07:09, Yesterday: Kalista rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  sword strike.
07:09, Yesterday: Kalista rolled 24 using 1d20+16.  Parry w/ Psi-Shield.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Fri 02 Dec 2016.

Polkitain got nervous and he looked at his claws creating his version of psiswords coming from his claws a glowing white gold in color.

He attacks the tree moving close to it.






Activating demon punch -6 ISP
08:59, Today: Polkitain rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  claw attack.
08:59, Today: Polkitain rolled 24 using 6d6.  Damage to tree MD.

Arulas concentrates for a moment while opening his awareness(Activates See Aura). His eyes snap open and he sees the tree well sort of. Enough anyway to strike at. He sprints towards it and strikes once.

Action 1: Activating See Aura
Action 2: Sprint
Action 3: Sprint
Action 4: Attack Strike is 15.
Actions 5 & 6: Defense
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Fri 02 Dec 2016.

Doc mutters a curse under his breath as the net nears him.

In reply to Nyx (msg # 51):

A 16 or higher is needed to dodge a magic net. I guess that is a good target number for a parry roll instead. If a magic net can be cut through, I suppose that it can be moved by telekinesis also. Give us a parry roll, and let's see what happens.

In reply to GM Zaboem (msg # 56):

I haven't had a chance to use a computer yet but Ethan was going to attempt a parry of sort by putting up a force field wall in the nets path. He has no IC way to know about the telekinesis attempt. Besides better for two tries in case one fails.

Okay, I will go ahead and roll a parry attempt for Ethan.

I rolled a 15 for Ethan. I did use his +4 bonus. He came super-close, but the magicky net slipped passed his improvised defense. I'm anxiously watching to see if Nyx fares better.

21:26, Today: Nyx rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Parry with Telekinesis. :(

The magic net engulfs all four characters, preventing them from either attacking nor defending.

We are now entering Round 3. Kalista has declared her action already. Does anybody else want to declare early?

At this point Arulas would likely drop any pretense at defense and slam the tree for 6 attacks per round until such time as it became evident that he needed to switch tactics.

Polkitain is prepared to claw up the tree and remain close to it but he wants to see how much damage he might have done to it trying to judge how much it might be able to take.

Ethan swears as he almost gets the force field up in time to prevent the glowing net from enveloping him and his companions. "Shit!" he exclaims, finding that despite the net glowing with magic energy, it doesn't seem to be hurting him. "On the other hand I can't seem to shot out of it either," he thinks to himself.

He is at a loss of what he can do offensively so he does the only thing he can think of, stay alert and hope that if any more attacks comes their way, he will be able to put up a force field in time to do some good.

Round 3

Kalista performs a wide slash with her psionic blade while maintaining a practiced defense against and simultaneous attack. The hazy energy cloud splits and wraps around the tip of the blade, and then it reforms on the other side. This miraculous dodge keeps the strange entity in the fight.

Doc
Doc holds his action, maybe?

The first guardian wraith, the one fighting Lady Kalista, realizes that it is quickly running out of tricks and options. It resorts to a quick magic spell in an attempt to buy itself some time to recover. The wraith casts Blinding Flash at her. Kalista is the only target within its area of effect. She must roll a standard Saving Throw versus Magic (16) to avoid the effect or else be blinded for 1D4 melee rounds.

Ethan
Reaching outward with his power, Ethan finds that he can in fact create more force fields.

The second guardian wraith, the one fighting Sir Arulas, continues it clawing assault against the elf. The monster makes a clumbsy attack. (It's mathematically impossible for Arulas to fail to parry this strike.) Arulas skillfully blocks thing's claw.

Nyx
Nyx holds his actio, maybe?

The third guardian wraith, the one which had been fighting Polkatain, discovers that it has been abandoned by its opponent. It looks around for a new combatant but finds none available. Being incorporeal and invisible, it instead calmly floats towards the prisoners inside the magic net.

Arulas
The brave knight ignores the only remaining wraith with a physical body left and charges at the tree, following Polkatain's guidance. With excellent speed, he sprints through the graveyard and arrives at his opponent soon afterward. The snubbed guardian wraith stares with a wide open jaw at Arulas' backside. He may activate See Aura and sprint at the same time.

Soul Tree
For those who can see it, the tree itself shakes slightly. Only Arulas and Polkatain are close enough to hear its whispered words in a hideous version of Elven-Dragonese. Polkatain is being targeted with a Domination spell. If he fails a standard Saving Throw versus Magic (16), Polkatain will feel compelled to obey the monster's commands. Arulas is not targeted and is ever so slightly outside of the range of this spell anyway.

Polkatain
If he fails, Polk will not attack and will be subject to commands next round.

If he succeeds, Polkatain responds by clawing at the tree. His claws land a solid strike. (Trees don't dodge.) His claws sink in a tear away bark.

I don't have the book with the Demon Punch power here with me tonight. Is there another effect beyond simply being able to hurt monsters and inflicting extra damage?

I guess we are ready to move to Round 4 now, aren't we?

Kalista is frustrated by the creature's ability to dodge without moving. She sets herself and takes the thing more seriously, feinting with a slash before changing her attack at the mast moment to a stabbing motion.

06:49, Today: Kalista rolled 30 using 6d6. sword damage.
06:48, Today: Kalista rolled 20 using 1d20+9. Swordslash.

(It does 3d6 extra damage but I will try to read it when I can.)

06:54, Today: Polkitain rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Save vs Magic.

Polkitain's eyes glaze slightly and he stops attacking.

Doc will struggle against the net, trying to free himself and his companions.

OOC if I am able to holster my guns before doing so, I will. Don't want them gummed up in a magical net.

Seeing that it was going to take a while to break free of the magic net, Ethan concentrated and created a force field large enough to encompass himself and his friends also trapped under the net. "Just trying to give us some cover while we work," he says to his companions.